Alexander Technique teacher with experience of teaching voluntarily at The Constructive Teaching Centre. Improve your poise and wellbeing, breathing etc.
We're taller than we think we are; by taking lessons I added 5 cms back onto my height. It's a case of thinking up, right up to the point between our ears, the top of the spine. Not just wishful thinking, but a determined thought of not pulling down throughout the mechanism.
We can decide to change our unhelpful postural habits by saying 'No' to them. with the help of your teacher you will begin to identify what these are and how to prevent them. Preventing the wrong and thinking of directions is what it's all about.
Very much enjoying "An Evolution of the Alexander Technique" containing writings by Walter and Dilys Carrington. Walter's style of writing is a privilege to read and is very clear to understand. Just reached the point of Dilys' writings about teaching first year students.
The head leads and the body follows; where is your head as you look at your mobile 'phone? Your answer lies within your body. Alexander Technique lessons help you to identify such bad habits and to choose a more constructive choice.
i experienced lower back pain and chronic neck tension after whiplash following a bad fall. These days I have zero back pain and neck tension. I have the Alexander Technique to thank for this as well as my fabulous first teacher! If you're in back pain it's worth considering.
When did you last give yourself time to yourself? Constructive Rest, or Semi Supine, allows us time to rest our backs and constructively rest the rest of the mechanism. It's easy to learn how to do this and is something to do on a daily basis. Stay pain free and tall in the spine
What is Constructive Rest? It's an opportunity to rest the body in a constructive manner, thinking through one's directions (thoughts we give ourselves) and allowing the space between the discs to hydrate. It's perfect for those who suffer from back pain!
Constructive Rest allows the spine to lengthen whilst we think of allowing our backs to rest on the table or floor. It really is worth devoting 15 minutes per day to this practice, which may seem like a long time but really isn't, we can fit this into our day!
The voice is an important muscle, just like any other muscle, and one which is in our interests to use wisely and with increased consciousness. FM worked on his voice over 10 years and saw that it was connected to his head, neck and back relationship. We can do the same.
i was taught to think about carrying an egg under each armpit, I didn't wish to break the egg so was encouraged to think of a lightness underneath the armpit which encourages the widening and creates space as opposed to tightening. Thinking of this helps.
We need to be thinking about 'forward and up' all the time, this direction being the direction which directs the head, neck and back in the upright. It's a tough ask sometimes, but all we can do is to wish for this in ourselves and it will return.
@jamieoliver Alexander Technique lessons, which should also be taught in every school, actually increase our height. Much of the lack of height is due to children hunching over their mobile 'phones.
Thinking Up isn't just wishful thinking, it's a definite message sent from the cranium to the head, neck and back to lengthen and widen. It's the opposite of back and down, or even forward and down, the message of forward and up encourages us to think up.
We can interrupt our habitual vocal Use and choose a more reasoned response if we take time to stop and think before continuing. It takes self-awareness and thinking in the moment but is possible. The voice is a muscle just like any other muscle and deserves to be treated well.
Mind and body are one, they are not something separate, they work together. Being in the upright is something which demands thought. Lessons teach us how to direct & think ourselves into the upright. it comes with practice and repetition of the Work.
We don't need to be pushing ourselves at the gym to stay in good shape. Lessons in the Alexander Technique help us to improve our posture, breathing and so forth. The gym just exercises muscles in a way that causes tension, whereas the Technique is about undoing of tension.
We're well versed in shortening and pulling down; we need lessons to learn how to be more in the upright. Digestion and poise work together as one thing, not two separate things. Self-help follows from lessons, we can apply the Work to ourselves in our daily lives.
If we're more in the upright, then there's more chance of our internal organs working to their optimum, including our breathing. It stands to reason. If we're pulling down, we're scrunching ourselves up where we really require more space for things to operate well. Think up!
When you're sad, the temptation is to pull down and thinking of doing the opposite seems too difficult. Today am thinking of my very good friend who has passed away and thinking of not pulling down at this news because I know this does not help matters.